Hand power ironer



July 30, 1940. c K, WQQD|N I 2,209,370

HAND POWER IRONER Filed Aug. 13, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet l lmvznrug July 30, 1 c. K. WOODlN HAND POWER IRONER Fi led Aug. 13, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 T .LNYEN'IEE.

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July 30, 1940. c WQQDIN 2,209,370

HAND POWER IRONER Filed Aug. 13, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 30, 1940 EJNETED STATES HAND POWER, IRONER Charles K. Woodin, Bloomington, 111.

Application August 13,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to ironers and more particularly to ironers of the hand operated type.

One of the objects of the invention lies in the provision of a hand operated ironer, wherein the shoe is moved to an operative position adjacent the buck, the pressure being applied upon the shoe in a manual manner, there being provided four adjustable supporting springs, which operate also to equalize the pressure upon the goods to be ironed.

Another object lies in the provision of a hand ironer, in which pressure is applied manually, the

pressure shoe being counterbalanced to permit ease of operation, the counterbalancing mechanism including a spring disposed in a horizontal ,position.

Still another object lies in the provision of a hand operated type of ironer, in which the shoe {is initially moved to operative position adjacent the buck, there being provided a locking mechanism of an adjustable type which is adapted to accommodate diflerent thicknesses of materials which are to be ironed.

Yet another object is in the provision of a hand operated type of ironer having a table top pivotally attached thereto in a manner to normally overlie the ironer when in an inactive position, said top, due to its construction permitting manual movement thereof to an out-of-the-way position when the ironer is being used in its normal manner.

A further object lies in the provision of a handoperated type of ironer, in which the operating mechanism includes right and left hand handles operating the pressure-applying means and lock respectively, the same being disposed in such position as to permit a natural operation of the machine.

A still further object is in the construction of a hand-operated type of ironer which includes a movable shoe which may be originally moved to .an operative position adjacent the buck, the same being held in a locked position with respect thereto, the pressing operation being accomplished by manually operated mechanism including dual cam members, said cam members having a co-operating relationship with spring operated means which automatically returns the shoe to an inactive position upon release of the cam-operating member.

Other objects will appear in the following specification, taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my hand ironer;

1931, Serial N0. 556, 721 (01. 38-34.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 22 of Fig. 4;

. Fig. 3-is another similar cross-sectional view showing the shoe in a removed position from the buck;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the ironer;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the shoe in a pressure-applying position with respect to the buck;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-45 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an .elevational sectional View taken on the line 1.-'! of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is an elevational'sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

This application is directed to a type of ironer that is generally referred to as the hand-operated type. It is a domestic appliance adapted for use mainly in the ordinary home. As will be later shown, it is capable of connection either with the ordinary electric, circuit or it may, if desired, be attached to the ordinary gas line, or utilized with bottle gas, gasoline, etc., for farm use.

, The device due to its simplicity of construction and small number of parts, may be produced at a minimum cost. Further, this character of ironer has many advantages that are not attributable to the better known class. of domestic ironer, in which a. heated shoe has an operative relationshipwith a power driven roll or pad. With an ironer of the present type, the operator is permitted a Wider scope as respects the pressing operation and as an example of same it is apparent that .an ironer of this character may be readily used for instance in the pressing of mens clothing as well as womens dresses, which ironing operation is not permitted with any degree of satisfaction when a roll type of domestic ironer is used. Further, flat pieces, such as sheets, etc., may be similarly ironed upon a machine of this character, inasmuch as said pieces may be initially folded and pressed in a single operation by this type of machine.

Applicant has devised [this machine in such manner that the operator may iron with a right and left handed movement of the control members, which operation will be much more apparent when the device has been described in detail.

Referring specifically to the drawings, applicants hand operated ironer is disposed upon a table, which comprises the ordinary top portion v.Ill'and plural leg portions II, the latter having disposed upon their lower ends well known castor portions l2. V I, .As shown in the drawings, however, the ironer does not necessarily have to be attached to the table, and as a matter of fact, in the present instance is shown in such form as to permit same to be moved from one table portion to another. In other words, the device may be put away in a closet or the like, and for the ironing operation removed from said closet and placed upon a table of ordinary construction.

The ironer itself comprises a heavy, preferably cast, base portion l3. The forward end of the base is the upwardly projecting supporting portion I l. Upon this base M a buck l6 is mounted. Plural springs and bolt members l co-operating with inwardly projecting ears on the support portion l4 provide a tension connection between the buck l6 and the supporting member |4. This buck is covered in the usual manner and obvious- 1y requires no further description.

The base l3 extends rearwardly in the manner shown in the various figures of the drawings. This casting obviously is triangular in form and the rear corners of the triangle have cast integrally therewith dual sets of upwardly projecting arms It is apparent from a consideration of Fig. 6 that there are two pairs of these upwardly projecting arms H, the upper ends thereof providing bearing supports for the pivotally mounted supports later to be described for the movably mounted pressure shoe.

The rear end of this casting or base member, also provides a housing portion |8 for a counterbalancing spring and chain later to be described.

Disposed in an operative and pivotal relationship with respect to the buck I6, is an ironing shoe or head l9. This shoe is adapted to receive therein the usual electric heating element 20, (or to be used in connection with bottle gas, gas or gasoline) which is of such conventionality as to obviate any further reference thereto. Further, this heating means has not been shown except generally in view of the fact that in territories in which there is no electric current, the operator may well use a gas heating element within the shoe. Electric wiring connection 2| may obviously be made in the usual manner with the conventional electric circuit, the same in the present instance being controlled by the well known hand-operated switch member 22.

The pressing shoe or head I9 is connected to dual shoe supporting arms 23 in a spring-tensioned'manner and the head, and arms together constitute a unitary assembly.

Referring specifically to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the pressure shoe supporting arms 23 have integrally formed therewith spring receiving openings 24. Nesting within these openings are found springs 25 which hold the shoe in a spring tensioned relationship with the arms 23 by means of plural bolts 26 and adjusting nuts and washers 21 and 28 respectively.

It is apparent from the above that these springs hold the shoe normally in a tensioned position against the outwardly projecting ends of the arms 23.

It is also apparent that the shoe, upon application of power, by means later to be described, and as is apparent from the drawings by means of cam mechanism, may be forced to a pressureapplying position beneath said arms. As a matter of fact, such movement of the shoe with respect to the arms 23 is accomplished by means of dual cams 29 which are rotatably pivotally connected and supported in openings 39 in arms 23 by means of a horizontally disposed rod 3|, which finds bearing support at its opposed ends in the portions of the arm 23 which lie immediately adjacent the cams 29. The cams obviously are fixedly secured to the rod 3| and the latter has connected thereto in an operative manner the pressure-applying handle 32 which is of the manually operating type.

From the above, it is thought quite apparent that movement of the arm 32 by the operator will force the shoe downwardly from the arms 32 for the purpose of the pressing operation, as well as to release the shoe by manual movement in an opposite direction. Upon release of the cams 29, it is apparent that the before mentioned springs 25 will automatically return the shoe to a nested position against the shoe supporting arms 23.

The dual arms 23 are pivotally mounted as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings in the upper ends of the two sets of before mentioned brackets N. This pivotal mounting of the arms is accomplished by means of the dual pivot or bolt members 33. Itis apparent also that these arms 23 are pivotedto the bracket not at their rear ends but at points somewhat adjacent their rear ends, this for reasons later to be described. Rearwardly extending dual crank arms 34 are formed integrally with and project from the dual arms 23. These crank arms 34 have pivotally secured thereto as at 35 the dual hook members 36.

.The particular mounting of these hook members is shown perhaps best in Fig. 6 of the drawings, wherein same are connected at their lower ends with the counterbalancing chains 37 and thezhorizontally disposed tension spring 38. It is apparent that this spring 38 is fixedly secured as at 39:and' .40 to the inner ends of the chain portions 31 in such manner as to counterbalance the pressing shoe l9 and supporting arms 23.

Dual roller members 4| are rotatably mounted as at 42 in the before mentioned portion l8, which forms a part of the base l3. Such counterbalancing of the pressure shoe renders movement of said shoe towards and away from the pressing buck i6 .extremely easy and therefore assists greatly in the ironing operation.

Now, turning to the mechanism for locking the ironing shoe and supporting arms 23 with respect to the'gbuck I6, in order to permit the final pressing operation accomplished through movement of the cams 29, the extreme rear ends of the arms 23 are provided with a plurality of notches shown at 43. There are also dogs 44 pivotally connected as at 45 to a bracket 46, either attached to or formed integrally with the base l3. These dogs 44 are disposed at each side of the ironer, the same being connected to the dual rod members 48 which, as shown in the various figures of the drawings, pass forwardly of the machine and over the pressure shoe I9. These rods have pivotal connections 49 with a crank arm 5|! which in turnhas pivotal connection5| in a bracket 52 which forms a forwardly projecting portion of the shoe supporting arms 23.

A manual control lever 53 is connected to and operates'in conjunction with crank arm 50 in a manner tomove the dogs 44 to the various adjustable locking positions.

Dog springs 43' are provided to force the dogs upward into engagement with the notches 43 on the end of the arms when the shoe is lowered upon the buck. Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 8 of the drawings, it will be seen that when the operator has placed the'mate'rials to be ironed upon the buck, he or '75 2,20 9,370 she, as the case may be, grasps the lever 53, bring-1 ing the pressure shoe forwardly and downwardly to a position immediately 'overlying the buck and directly upon the material to be ironed. This movement of the control lever automatically brings the dual dogs 44 to an operating, and it" might be said, a locking-position, with the plural notches 43, upon the ends of theshoe supporting arms 23. In other words, after the shoe has been brought down to an operative position against the material upon the buck, the operator then, by further movement of the locking handle 53,

throws the dogs 44 into a locked engagement or position with the plural notches 43 upon the shoe supporting arms. the pressing shoe is held in a locked position with respect to the material to be'ironed'and the pressing pad. The operator then, with a natural movement, grasps the pressure applying handle 32 and draws same forwardly in such manner that the cams 29 apply pressure upon the shoe l9 and forces same in a powerful manner against the material lying between the heated shoe and the buck.

In view of the fact that the shoe supporting arms 23 and the shoe head has been initially forced to a locked position against the material and buck, it is apparentthat this pressure which is given to the shoe manually through the dual earns 29 further applies the additional and necessary pressure for the ironing operation.

Obviously, the operator may use his or her judgment as to the length of time necessary to accomplish the ironing operation and when same has been finished, it is natural to first move the pressure applying handle 32 to a rearward position to relieve the pressure between the shoe [9 and the buck I6. Following this release of pressure, the operator then in a natural movement with his or her left hand, moves the locking handle 53 to a rearward position by virtue of the before described counterbalancing mechanism, the electrically heated pressure shoe l9 and supporting arms 23 may be practically automatically returned to an inactive position which permits the operator to remove the ironed material and thereafter place other material upon the buck for the subsequent ironing operation.

Attention is directed to the before described locking mechanism and particularly to the fact that there are plural notches 44 upon the supporting arms 23. This plural notching of the arms 23 is for a very important purpose. For instance, the operator, in an ironing operation, constantly places material of different thicknesses upon the buck to be ironed. In View of the fact that the locking mechanism is, we will say, adjustable, it will be noted that irrespective of the character or thickness of material placed upon the buck, when the pressing shoe is drawn to an operating position upon said material upon movement of the locking dog, same will engage that particular one of the notches 44 which will hold the shoe in its proper and fixed position upon said materials.

For instance, if the materials to be ironed are rather thin, the dog will engage the upper of the notches is upon arms 23, while if the materials are quite thick, it is-probable that the dog will engage the last of the notches; nevertheless, the ironing head will always be supported in its proper position with respect to the material that is to be ironed.

As an additional feature to applicants present hand ironing machine, a top or cover member 54 is supported by brackets 55 and 56. Brackets 56 find pivotal mountings '51 upon the pivot portions previously described for the supporting arms 23. In other words, the pivot pins for the pressure shoe supporting arms 23 are extended, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, in a manner to further carry the member 56, which carries the table top 54.

Bolts 58 further secure the members 56 to these previously described pivot pins. I 7

It is apparent that when the ironer is not being used, the top 54 may be manually drawn to the horizontal position shown in Fig; 1, where it may operate as a useful table or shelf. Ob viously, when the ironeris being'used, the top may be pushed rearwardly to an out-of-the-way position. I

As far as the operation of applicants ironer is concerned,- same is thought to have been described in detail throughout the description of various elements. Nevertheless, it will be seen that the operator in using this ironer, forces the table top 4 to an out-of-the-way position, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The locking arm 53, disposed to the left of the shoe, is released with the result thatdue' to the counterbalancing mechanism,

locked position with one of the plural notches 43, the springs 43' assisting in this engagement. Obviously, the thickness of the material to be ironed is automatically and adjustably taken care of by this plural stop mechanism.

With the pressing shoe and supporting arms 23 held now in a locked position with respect to the buck, the operator, with his or her right hand, and with a natural movement, grasps the pressure applying lever 32, thereafter drawing same forwardly with the result that the dual cams 29 force the pressing shoe further upon the material to accomplish the ironing operation.

This slight final movement of the shoe issufficient to iron any character of material. However, it is apparent that the operator must judge the length of the ironing operation, and when,

same has been completed, he or she first relieves the pressure upon the materials by moving the pressure applying handle 32 to a rearward position. Following this release of pressure, the operator with his or her left hand, then throws the locking handle 53 upwardly and rearwardly, thus unlocking the shoe and supporting arms 23, whereby the shoe may be moved to the position shown in Fig. 3'by a minimum of effort, due to the counterbalanced support therefor. Subsequent ironing operations are obviously accombeing mounted on the frame and the upper press- 75] ing element being movable toward and from the lower, a carrier lever for the upper pressing element, said lever being pivoted: to the frame and movable to carry the upper pressing element into and out of a position over the lower pressing element, a movable lock supported by the frame and having a part coacting with the carrier lever to hold the carrier lever from retrograde movement when the press is closed, a spring acting on the lock to move it into operative position, the lock having means coacting with the carrier lever so that the carrier lever holds the look from movement by its spring when the press is open, and moves out of holding relation to the lock during downward movement of the lever to permit the lock to be moved by its spring into locking engagement with the lever and holding the lever from retrograde movement, and means for moving the upper pressing element relatively to the lever into and out of clamping coaction with the lower element and for releasing the lock to open the press,

2. A garment press including a frame, upper and lower pressing elements, the lowervelement being mounted on the frame and the upper pressa oaam ing element beingmovable toward and from the lower, a carrier lever for the upper pressing element, said lever being pivoted to-the frame and movable to carry the upper pressing element into and out of a position over the lower pressing element, a movable lock carried by the frame and having a part coacting with the carrier lever to hold the carrier lever from retrograde movement when the press is closed, a spring acting on the lock to move it intooperative position, the lock having means coacting with the carrier lever so that the carrierlever holds the look from movement by its spring when the press is open, and moves out of holding relation to the lock during downward movement of the lever to permit the lock to be moved by its spring into locking engagement with the lever and holding the lever from retrograde movement, said lever and lock having means coacting with a camming action whereby the lock has a follow-up action, as the lever carries the head downward, and. means for moving the upper pressing element relatively to the lever into clamping coaotion with the lower pressing element.

' CHARLES K. WOODIN. 

